"Make it seem like an accident." A Zinger's Prana Bomb hovered in the air. Attached to it was a flower whose pollen caused one to fall asleep, "Place this on the roof of the building next to you. It would put the blame on the Zingers."
Mahuddu accepted the Prana Bomb and stared at the individual that remained seated within the shuttle, exuding arrogance nurtured through authority. He bowed in response, "I'll do as you say,"
"Lady Zannerl."
"Don't utter my name casually." The lady in the shuttle snorted, following which she snapped her finger, motioning for the Shuttle to be moved to her Settlement already, "Remember, you'll not be paid the Mid-Grade Elixir if you fail to kill Asaeya. And if you dare reveal my involvement, I'll slaughter all your descendants. Keep that in mind the next time you say my name."
"Y-Yes." Mahuddu bowed respectfully as he carefully moved the shuttle to the 43rd Settlement. He immediately placed the Prana Bomb on the roof of the nearby building and sniffed, 'I feel a mild sense of sleepiness. As long as I remove the Prana protecting my lungs, I'll be affected faster. I'll do that while transporting Asaeya to appear natural.'
Bam!
A punch to the face forced Mahuddu to recall the previous night's arrangement. He crashed into the wall of the guest room and coughed out blood, glaring at Instructor Mandu, "How dare a mere junior attack me?"
"Do you wish to die?"
"I should be asking you the same." Instructor Mandu grunted and shot two bolts of Prana, aiming for the old man, Mahuddu.
Mahuddu riled up his Prana and caused the walls of the guest room to melt and flow around him like water. It transformed into a robust shield and defended against the Prana Shock, shattering in response as the residue slammed into him, causing him to gasp.
Mahuddu was a master at the 2-Life Stage, in charge of the shuttle that moved between the 44th and 43rd Settlements. He fused with a Beginner Silver Grade Pranic Beast. In terms of his Prana reservoir, lifespan, or sheer power, he overwhelmed Instructor Mandu on all fronts.
But until he transformed, all he had was a larger Prana reservoir. And to prevent his transformation, Instructor Mandu attacked in his transformed state, overwhelming the latter.
Instructor Mandu, as a Shock Lizard leaped in the air and unleashed another Prana Shock. When Mahuddu defended against it, partly stunned, he lashed with his tail.
The tail slap sent Mahuddu crashing into the wall once again. And before he could even manage to orient himself, two more Prana Shocks followed suit, this time slamming dead centre.
"Aargh!" Mahuddu felt his internal organs rupture from the impact, "I'll kill…"
His voice came to a halt as Mahuddu stared at the bone spear that poked out of his chest. It revved once and shredded his heart, causing his eyes to lose all signs of life.
"Mandu, control yourself." The other master at the scene hurriedly grabbed Instructor Mandu, "It's forbidden to kill one of us."
"One of us?" Instructor Mandu glared at the master, "Someone that dares try to kill my student is a fucking traitor to the Clan! Don't you dare stop me, Vuhal. Or I'll consider you as Mahuddu's accomplice."
"Please don't be unreasonable, Mandu." The master, called Vuhal shouted in a hurry, "I was dispatched by the Settlement Leader to investigate the cause. I'll be the judge whether or not Mahuddu did it on purpose or by mistake."
"Mistake? Have you lost your braincells, Vuhal?" Instructor Mandu clapped once as his spear shot to the nearby roof and pushed out a Zinger's Prana Bomb. Attached to it was a flower, still releasing pollen.
"Don't you feel sleepy?" Instructor Mandu snorted, "Even when I raged, this pollen still made me feel sleepy. I could immediately figure out the cause and pinpoint it."
He glared at Vuhal, "If a master cannot even notice something this obvious, isn't he a waste of our Clan's resources? Am I wrong in dispatching such a parasite?"
"This…" Vuhal hesitated and whispered, "I noticed it too. But, you or I don't have the authority to punish a master. Only the Settlement Leader does. So, I was buying time until he arrived."
"Ah…I see," Instructor Mandu cooled down in realisation, "It seems I went overboard. Sorry for cursing at you."
"No, I understand." Vuhal nodded, "A student you were nurturing was almost killed. If I was in your place, I too would have gone ballistic. But you were wrong, Mandu. You'll be punished for killing a master."
"I see someone is being naughty." A voice resounded behind them, alarming the two.
'I didn't even notice his approach.' Instructor Mandu turned around in shock before prostrating on the floor in response, "I greet the Settlement Leader!"
"I greet the Settlement Leader!" Vuhal too prostrated, trembling upon feeling Bora Tusk's bloodthirsty gaze.
"You disturbed me for this crap?" Bora Tusk lifted his foot and stomped, crushing Vuhal's arm, stating upon seeing the latter control himself, not even letting out a grunt, "I believe I gave you the authority."
"But Mahuddu is a master." Vuhal controlled himself to mask the pain he felt. If he dares shows it in his expression, Bora Tusk would continue torturing him.
"A master…?" Bora Tusk calmly stared at Mahuddu's corpse, "He's at the Body Stage though?"
1-Life Stage was equivalent to the peak of the Body Stage. Since Mahuddu was killed once by Instructor Mandu, his cultivation dropped from the 2-Life Stage to the 1-Life Stage.
"Am I not making sense?" Bora Tusk asked calmly, but his body was already oozing out killing intent, causing the buildings in the vicinity to turn molten. "I remember setting a rule that a master can decide an elite's punishment if they commit a mistake. Do you want me to continue?"
"Please leave it to me, Settlement Leader." Vuhal slowly got up. He didn't even stare up when a powerful blow slammed his side, sending him flying into a building.
"Bastard. Why did you summon me for something you could take care of?" Bora Tusk groaned, "Am I being lenient in my punishment? Is that why you brats are being a pain in my nasty butt?"
"I apologise," Vuhal walked out as he coughed out blood. One side of his skeletal frame had been shattered. The organs within too had turned into mush. If not for his Prana reinforcing them, he would have lost a life.
But he dared not heal himself before Bora Tusk, for the madman would only see that as an act of rebellion. Therefore, Vuhal could only plead.
"Tch! Leave it. Since I came out anyway, I'll go on a stroll." Bora Tusk stared to his left and observed a colony of Zingers. He licked his lips and launched himself, making a beeline towards the mountain; he engaged in a slaughter, all to curb his desire for murder.
Vuhal was used to such a sight. And once Bora Tusk had left, he hurriedly healed his injuries, "I feel like I have aged by a decade."